The tetsubin cast-iron teapot began as a humble implement in Japanese kitchens. It was used to boil water over the hearth to provide both heat and humidity. It was also used to boil tea water because many tea drinkers favored the taste of water boiled in cast iron. Around the mid 1800’s, tetsubin pots became ornate status symbols and were integrated into the artful and elaborate Japanese tea ceremonies where they continue to play a small but important role.
Today, tetsubin teapots are still made of cast-iron, but most interiors are coated with an enamel glaze to prevent rusting. Tetsubin pots are typically small and hold only two cups of tea. It is interesting to note that the decoration on a tetsubin pot is generally placed so the spout points to the right when viewing the design.
Tetsubin teapots reflect a cultural and historic tradition in Japanese art where function meets design and both are thereby enhanced.
View the tetsubin collection of the California Academy of Sciences here .
Friday, July 29, 2005
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Global tea imports rise spurred by US demand
Global tea imports rise 1.5% spurred by US demand
Global tea imports rose 1.5% in 2004, helped by rising US demand for the fragrant leaves, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization said. Global net tea imports reached 1.42 million metric tons in 2004, the Rome-based organization said. The US bought 99,000 tons, 5.3% more than in 2003. That’s more than double the growth in the European Union, where imports rose 2.4% to 215,000 tons.
“Most of the growth in these markets is reportedly in response to promotional efforts on the health benefits of tea consumption,” the FAO said. “Available evidence from medical research suggests that moderate consumption of tea offers protection against heart and blood vessel disease, some cancers, and bacterial infections.”
Kenya and Sri Lanka are the world’s biggest tea suppliers. Unilever NV’s Lipton, Tata Tea Ltd, which owns the Tetley brand, and Associated British Foods Plc’s Twinings business are the world’s top suppliers of the beverage.
“In response to increased demand, global tea production rose 2% to an estimated 3.2 million tons,” it said. “The expansion in production was due mainly to the increases recorded in Turkey, China, Kenya, Malawi, Sri Lanka and Indonesia,” the organization said. “The growth in output from these countries more than offset declines in other major producing countries, including India and Bangladesh.”
Source
Global tea imports rose 1.5% in 2004, helped by rising US demand for the fragrant leaves, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization said. Global net tea imports reached 1.42 million metric tons in 2004, the Rome-based organization said. The US bought 99,000 tons, 5.3% more than in 2003. That’s more than double the growth in the European Union, where imports rose 2.4% to 215,000 tons.
“Most of the growth in these markets is reportedly in response to promotional efforts on the health benefits of tea consumption,” the FAO said. “Available evidence from medical research suggests that moderate consumption of tea offers protection against heart and blood vessel disease, some cancers, and bacterial infections.”
Kenya and Sri Lanka are the world’s biggest tea suppliers. Unilever NV’s Lipton, Tata Tea Ltd, which owns the Tetley brand, and Associated British Foods Plc’s Twinings business are the world’s top suppliers of the beverage.
“In response to increased demand, global tea production rose 2% to an estimated 3.2 million tons,” it said. “The expansion in production was due mainly to the increases recorded in Turkey, China, Kenya, Malawi, Sri Lanka and Indonesia,” the organization said. “The growth in output from these countries more than offset declines in other major producing countries, including India and Bangladesh.”
Source
